Nevada Volleyball Loses to Sacramento State

The Nevada volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to host-school Sacramento State on Friday evening on the first day of the Sacramento State Invitational. The win for the Hornets ended the Wolf Pack’s four-match winning streak.

The Pack (5-5, 0-0 MW) hit .245 as a team but allowed Sac State to attack at a .287 clip. Junior Madison Morell led Nevada with 13 kills while senior Sommer King posted a season-high .429 hitting percentage. The Pack out-blocked the Hornets 10-4.

Nevada went on a 3-0 spurt and created separation for themselves as they went up 10-7 in the first set after a service ace from sophomore Madison Foley. The Hornets would knot it up at 15-15 and despite five kills and three digs from junior Madison Morell in the set, Sac State claimed the frame, 25-19, and took a 1-0 lead in the match.

In the second set, the Pack took another early lead, 14-8, after a kill from King and two Sac State errors. The Hornets would come back though and tie the match up at 20-20 before consecutive kills from Groenweghe, a kill from King, an ace from Rothfuss and an error propelled Nevada to a second victory, 25-20.

After dropping the third set, 25-21, Nevada dug itself into a hole in the beginning of the fourth set as they fell behind, 5-0. But the Pack would not back down as it would come all the way back to take an 18-17 lead on a block assist from seniors Sam Willoughby and Taylar Rothfuss. It would be the Pack’s only advantage of the set though as the Hornets won the set, 25-20, and the match, 3-1.

The Pack will play a doubleheader tomorrow to wrap up play at the Sacramento State Invitational as it will face Santa Clara at 10 a.m. and Kent State at 5 p.m.